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Our 10 Best Meals in NYC Under $6

November 25, 2009

Prosperity Dumpling's sesame pancake with beef is so cheap ($1.75) that you can also afford an order of dumplings

The principal lure of the cheap eat is, of course, its cheapness. But ultra-affordable food often has more going for it than thriftiness. The best are found in interesting digs–a nighttime food truck; a taqueria hidden in the back of a bodega; a noodle joint where you can watch the cook stretch the noodles by hand; a bustling Bronx Puerto Rican place staffed by ladies in hairnets, patronized by Yankees fans. They’re the restaurants where most of the city actually eats, alive and vital in ways that most fine dining establishments can only dream of.

There are far more than 10 great cheap meals in New York, but we’ve put together a list of our current favorites. We’ve only included those foods that can be considered filling meals, which is why you won’t find a Papaya dog on the list. Extra credit was given for extreme value. Read on to see our list of runners up.

Three tacos from Brooklyn's Deli and Grocery: Tongue, chorizo, and suadero for $1.50 each.